Jake: So, Jake, you just couldn’t stay away, eh?

Jake: Kinda hard to stay away from oneself.

Jake: I don’t know. Lots of people do it. It’s called denial.

Jake: I thought denial was a river- Ah, never mind. Shall we get to it?

Jake: Sure. What’s frying in your brainpan today?

Jake: Well, as I finish up my latest novel, which I should be writing instead of this post, I can’t help but wonder what’s next.

Jake: You mean like for humanity as a whole?

Jake: No, dipshit, what I’m going to write next.

Jake: Don’t you have ideas?

Jake: Sure. Tons. That’s the problem. I have more ideas than time.

Jake: What are you leaning towards?

Jake: That’s the other problem. I’m leaning towards them all.

Jake: But don’t you have sequels to write? And that novel now could be part of a series if it gets picked up, right?

Jake: Yep. More problems. I need to write the next Little Dead Man novel, but I’m waiting to see how sales go before I get started on that. And, yes, the novel I’m writing now (which is under a pen name!) is part of a planned series. Those two could take up the first half of 2013.

Jake: What does the Muse say?

Jake: The Muse is a right snotty bitch. I have two partial novels I set aside that I want to get back to. Plus, three other novels I have had forming in my mind and I’ve written extensive notes on. Then there’s the NEW IDEA!

Jake: Ooooh, do tell!

Jake: Haven’t we talked about using the phrase “do tell”?

Jake: Yes…

Jake: And what did we decide?

Jake: Well, we didn’t decide anything. You decided that I shouldn’t use it.

Jake: But I am we.

Jake: So am I.

Jake: Screw you.

Jake: You mean us?

Jake: Nope. Just you.

Jake: You’re a messed up man, Jake Bible.

Jake: Point?

Jake: I think we strayed from that a while back.

Jake: Yeah, true. So what do I write?

Jake: What factors do you have to consider when picking the next novel?

Jake: Lots of factors. Time, money, desire, marketability, time, money…you get the picture.

Jake: What’s the new idea, by the way?

Jake: You know that Apex Trilogy we just finished?

Jake: Yes, I do! Great stuff that.

Jake: I have an idea for a whole series of novels set waaaaaaaay in the future of that world. It could be a whole new genre of science fiction.

Jake: Called?

Jake: Don’t want to say yet. I need to keep working on the idea.

Jake: What else is rolling around your brain?

Jake: An urban fantasy novel. A straight scifi novel. Plus those uncompleted novels. Oh, and some work I need to do with another pen name of mine. Gotta get those sales up and make the cha-ching.

Jake: If I can’t say do tell then you can’t say cha-ching.

Jake: Touché.

Jake: Thank you. So the Muse isn’t helping. What are you going to do?

Jake: I think I’ll work on a few projects at once. My gut says that the novel series I am writing now will take off. If Mr. Gut is correct then I’ll be pretty busy for a few months. That gives me time to work on the unfinished novels in between. I will also have time to world build for the series that takes place in the Apex Trilogy universe.

Jake: And Little Dead Man?

Jake: I have tons of ideas for that. It’ll write itself pretty quick once I get started.

Jake: Sounds like you’ve decided what to do.

Jake: For now, maybe. But that Muse may strike and derail everything!

Jake: That snotty bitch.

Jake: No shit, man. No shit.

Jake: Can you keep the Muse from derailing you?

Jake: I may have to. In the past I didn’t have the strength, hence the two unfinished novels.

Jake: Lots of writers have unfinished novels just hanging out.

Jake: Not me. I write what I start. Having those two sitting there uncompleted really bugs me. One is almost done! The other just needs a reworking of the third chapter and it will take off!

Jake: You are so screwed. You’re never getting it all finished in 2013. Not with the time crunch you have.

Jake: Fingers crossed that something takes off. If it does then possibly writing full time will become a reality. If that happens then I can get all of my planned projects done in 2013.

Jake: You’re saying you can write a novel series, finish two uncompleted novels, write the Little Dead man sequel, and write the other novel ideas you have? All in one year?

Jake: Maybe not all of it. But I could get close if I write full time.

Jake: I think you’re blaming the Muse when it’s really Old Man Chronos’s fault. The Muse has given you a bounty, you just don’t have the time to reap that bounty.

Jake: Good point.

Jake: Thanks. I make them sometimes.

Jake: Yeah, sometimes.

Jake: So where does this leave us? Has this conversation helped you work out your priorities?

Jake: I know I need to write the novel series first. Then I think I’ll go back over the uncompleted manuscripts. Maybe they can be salvaged quickly.

Jake: And if they can’t?

Jake: Move on to one of my new ideas. The Apex universe one might be the way to go. Build on the success of DEAD MECH, The Americans, and Metal and Ash.

Jake: Well there you have it. By the way, why write this post?

Jake: I’m hoping it gives my readers some insight into how I choose my projects. It may also give some writers that are just starting out insight into the process too. I’m all about helping the new writers!

Jake: You’re not a new writer?

Jake: I’m not an old pro, but after publishing four novels I don’t think I’m new either.

Jake: You’re in the middle.

Jake: Yep. I’m stuck in the middle with you.

Jake: With me?

Jake: With you.

Jake: Can we go now?

Jake: Yeah. That’s probably a good idea. End on a high note.

Jake: High C?

Jake: And goodnight, folks.

Jake Bible has written five novels, published four of them with the fifth being shopped by his agent. He’s hoping to up the numbers on both counts. If you have writing questions feel free to shoot him an email at jakebiblefiction@gmail.com. He’d love to hear from you about your struggles (or non-struggles) with that snotty bitch, The Muse.